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School Age Immunisation Service
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- 0-19 Sheffield Service – School Nursing and Vaccination Team
- School Age Immunisation Service
Drop in clinics
Every Thursday between 3.30pm and 5.15pm the School Age Immunisation team and School Nursing team will be at Fir Vale Community Hub, 127 Page Hall Road, S4 8GU.
You can drop in to get your child vaccinated for the flu virus or any other childhood vaccine. Other clinics are also available on the dates in the drop down menu below.
Who are the School Age Immunisation Service?
The School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS) consists of experienced registered nurses and health care support workers who deliver the National School Age Programme of Immunisations in Sheffield. Our team have developed processes to ensure that our service is accessible to all eligible children.
The service engages with more than 200 mainstream primary and secondary schools, plus independent schools, special educational needs (SEN) schools, alternative education provisions, and supports young people who are home educated or not in education.
We work closely with other services and aim to provide education and understanding around vaccinations to make sure young people and their families have all the information they need to make an informed choice. We may do this by ensuring families can access information in their primary language or by attending schools and community venues to provide education around vaccinations and their associated public health issues. Our staff are very experienced in giving vaccinations in accordance with the NHS routine national immunisation schedule.
What does SAIS offer?
Our main immunisation programme is delivered in schools and community-based clinics and supports:
- Young people and families by avoiding the need to take time out of school or work
- Reduced travel time and cost for families
- Reduced inequalities for children living in rural areas
Details for upcoming clinics will be shared on social media, this webpage and in the News section.
SAIS now offers the following services to children and young people across the Sheffield region.
Adolescent programme (from January 2024)
In Years 8 and 9 at school, children and young people will be offered the adolescent programme of vaccinations, this consists of the following:
Human papillomavirus (HPV vaccine)
The HPV vaccine has been offered to all girls in Year 8 for over ten years. Since September 2019, the vaccine has also been offered to Year 8 boys. This is because the evidence is clear that the HPV vaccine helps protect both boys and girls from HPV-related cancers.
The HPV vaccine helps protect against infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
This virus increases the risk of developing some cancers later in life, such as: cervical cancer, some mouth and throat cancers and some cancers of the anus and genital areas.
What difference has the HPV vaccine made so far?
More than 80 million people have received the vaccine worldwide. In time it is expected that the vaccine will save hundreds of lives every year in the UK. A recent Scottish study has already shown a 71% reduction in pre-cancerous cervical disease in young women. Since the start of the vaccination programme in the UK there has been a big decline in the number of young people with genital warts.
Diphtheria, Tetanus & Polio (DTP)
DTP is given in Year 9 – and you may hear it called the ‘school leaver’s booster’.
Diphtheria is a serious disease that often begins with a sore throat. It can damage the heart, nervous system and, in severe cases, may kill.
Tetanus is a painful disease affecting the nervous system and is caused when germs found in soil and manure get into the body through open wounds.
Polio is a virus that attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis of the muscles; if it affects the chest muscles or brain it can kill.
This vaccine is given a single injection into the upper arm.
Meningitis ACWY
Meningitis ACWY is also given in Year 9. This vaccine protects against the four main groups of meningococcal bacteria that can cause meningitis (infection of the layers that surround the brain and spinal cord) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). Meningococcal disease is rare but really serious and can lead to amputation, hearing loss, brain damage and scars.
Consent for HPV, DTP, and Meningitis ACWY vaccine
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR vaccine)
When you are having your Td/IPV boosters and Men ACWY vaccine, it’s a good idea to check with the nurse or doctor that all your other immunisations are up to date, such as MMR. The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective combined vaccine, it protects against three serious illnesses:
These highly infectious conditions can easily spread between unvaccinated people.
Getting vaccinated is important, as these conditions can also lead to serious problems including meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy
It’s particularly important to check that your MMR immunisation is up to date because we know some children have not had two doses of MMR. You should be given routine doses as a one-year-old and then a second dose at 3 years 4 months, however it’s never too late to catch up on missed doses or to receive the vaccine.
It’s particularly important to check you’ve had both doses if you:
- are about to start college or university
- are going to travel abroad
- are planning a pregnancy
- are a frontline health or social care worker
- were born between 1970 and 1979, as you may have only been vaccinated against measles
- were born between 1980 and 1990, as you may not be protected against mumps
More information about the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is available on the NHS website.
Sensory Clinics
The team also offers support for children and young people with vaccination fear and anxiety. Our sensory vaccination clinics run throughout the year. These are a quieter, calmer space with much longer appointment slots where young people can be accompanied by a supporting adult. They may choose to just visit, or have a consultation, or be vaccinated on the day.
15-year-old Adam went to one of these sensory clinics to overcome his fear of needles, and you can read his story.
If they are unsuccessful during these clinics, the team can also offer some ongoing support and resources around fear and panic, grounding techniques and a graded exposure exercise.
Sensory clinics work on an appointment basis, please call 0114 305 3230 or email the service to discuss your individual requirements.
- Visiting the Sensory Clinic (1.95 MB)
- What happens when you have an immunisation? (737.16 KB)
What are immunisations?
Immunisations make sure that our bodies are best protected against some serious diseases. It means that if we come into contact with certain diseases our bodies are better equipped to fight them off.
As a result of the UK’s National Immunisation Programme, a number of diseases have disappeared from the UK, such as polio. However, as they are still present in some other countries, they could come back, so it is vital that we remain protected. Maintaining high immunisation rates means that we not only protect ourselves, but also our families and communities, and it helps to keep diseases at bay.
Vaccines…
…Do
- Protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
- Protect other people in your community – by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines
- Undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced – they’re also constantly monitored for side effects after being introduced
- Occasionally cause mild side effects that will not last long – some children may feel a bit unwell and have a sore arm for two or three days
- Reduce or even get rid of some diseases – if enough people are vaccinated.
…Don’t
- Cause autism – studies have found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism
- Overload or weaken the immune system – it is safe to give children several vaccines at a time and this reduces the amount of injections they need
- Cause allergies or any other conditions – all the current evidence tells us that vaccinating is safer than not vaccinating
- Contain mercury (Thiomersal)
- Contain any ingredients that cause harm in such small amounts – but speak to the team if you have any known severe allergies
Visit the NHS immunisation page for more information.
Consent
All parents – or people with parental responsibility – are asked to provide consent and will usually make this decision jointly with their children. The information leaflet is addressed to the child (as the recipient of the vaccine) and encourages them to discuss the decision about the vaccine with their parents.
All SAIS consent forms are now sent and returned electronically. E-consent forms and information leaflets are sent out via your child’s school at the appropriate time. In order to complete the form you will need the school code, which is a unique number beginning with SF. The details will be sent via school. If your child is not in education, attends alternative provision or is no longer in education please contact us for the access code you will need. Contact details are below.
On the day of their immunisations, the nurse will check the e-consent form and ensure your child is well and able. If your child is unwell or absent we will send out details of our community clinics via school – or they are always available on this website.
- Diphtheria, Tetanus & Polio (DTP) vaccine e-consent form
- Children’s Flu Vaccine e-consent form
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine e-consent form
If you have difficulties completing the e-consent form(s) for your child’s vaccination(s) then please contact the service on 0114 305 3230 or email scn-tr.sheffielddutysn.vacandimm@nhs.net.
Our e-consent process is carried out through a third party, Cinnamon Digital Applications. Their privacy policy is available on their website.
Self-consent
In secondary schools, some young people will be Gillick competent to provide their own consent. Healthcare professionals from the vaccination team will speak to the young person and make every effort to contact the parent. These professionals have expertise in vaccinating young people and will be responsible for assessing whether they have enough understanding to self-consent (this is called ‘Gillick competence’).
The Green Book of Immunisation contains more information on consent, including Gillick competence.
Useful resources about vaccinations
Quick links